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Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre reported the suspect in custody for Thursdays incident on U.S. Highway 90 has been identified as an Alabama man with a lengthy criminal history. Joseph Eatmon (B/M, D.O.B. 05/17/79) of 2607 Gamble Avenue in Jasper, Alabama, has been booked on several charges after a hit and run and armed robbery on U.S. 90 that forced the closure of the highway for over an hour Thursday.

Through investigation, deputies learned Eatmon was involved in an auto crash on U.S. 90 near the LA Highway 182 exit just before 9 a.m. on Thursday, December 27. Immediately after the crash, a concerned citizen stopped to check on those involved in the crash. As the citizen approached the crash scene, Eatmon allegedly pointed a gun at the citizen, demanding his car keys, and the citizen handed his keys to Eatmon.

At that time, an investigator with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, who was passing by, stopped to check on those involved in the crash. He approached the scene, identifying himself as a federal agent. As he did, the concerned citizen still on scene indicated that Eatmon had a gun. The agent attempted to have Eatmon surrender himself, but Eatmon ran from the scene and jumped onto the back of a semi-truck trailer which was stopped near the LA 182 exit. The driver of the semi-truck then drove away heading westbound on U.S. 90 for a short distance before the driver stopped after realizing Eatmon was riding on the rear of the trailer. Eatmon then jumped off the trailer and headed into a wooded area adjacent to U.S. 90 Westbound. Deputies with the Lafourche Parish Sheriffs Office and Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop C arrived on scene and began searching the area for Eatmon. With the assistance of a K-9 unit, deputies located the suspect in the wooded area and he was taken into custody. The entire incident forced the shutdown of U.S. 90 Westbound traffic for over an hour. Traffic flow resumed around 10:30 a.m.

Following the incident, Eatmon refused to cooperate with investigators. He was eventually transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux where he was booked with armed robbery, aggravated assault, and resisting an officer. He is being held in lieu of $106,000 bond as set by Judge Ashly Bruce Simpson. Louisiana State Police Troop C has indicated Eatmon was also cited for hit and run, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and no drivers license in reference to the auto crash. Lafourche Parish Sheriffs Office detectives are continuing to work with other law enforcement agencies in reference to other crimes Eatmon is suspected of having committed in other jurisdictions.

Eatmons criminal history dates back to 1997. He has been arrested multiple times in Alabama, Missouri and Tennessee for offenses including stealing, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer, DUI, trespassing, resisting, escape, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Suspect in U.S. Highway 90 Incident Identified as Alabama Man, Booked on Charges of Robbery and Assault